Sophie Irwin

Sophie Irwin
Born
Sophie Helen Burks

December 1994 (age 31)
EducationMansfield College, Oxford
Years active2019–present

Sophie Irwin is an English historical romance novelist. Her debut novel A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting (2022) was a Sunday Times bestseller and won an Alex Award. This was followed by A Lady's Guide to Scandal (2023).

Early life

Irwin attended the Gryphon School, completing her A Levels in 2013.[1][2] As a teenager, she worked in the local Winstone's bookshop.[3] She went on to graduate with a degree in English from Mansfield College, Oxford.[4] Having read Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen from a young age, Irwin wrote her dissertation on the popularity of the former during World War II.[1]

Career

Irwin began her career working as an editor in publishing.[5] She started writing what would become her debut novel in 2019.[1][6] In a two-book deal in 2021, HarperFiction (part of HarperCollins) acquired the rights to publish Irwin's debut Regency romance novel A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting in 2022.[7] The U.S. publishing rights went to Pamela Dorman Books.[8] The novel follows a young women Kitty Talbot who seeks a wealthy husband to pay off her late parents' debt. Irwin wanted to explore the economic side of marriage in Regency society.[5][9] A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting debuted at #3 on the Sunday Times bestseller list,[10] won an Alex Award, and was a RUSA Listen List selection.[11] A second novel set in the same universe titled A Lady's Guide to Scandal was published in 2023, presenting the opposite dynamic of a widow with money.[12][13]

HarperFiction acquired two further romance novels from Irwin in October 2023.[14] Her third novel How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days was published the following year.[15] Also in 2025, Irwin signed a deal with Century (a Penguin Random House UK imprint) to write a Georgette Heyer continuation.[16]

Bibliography

A Lady's Guide

Standalone novels

  • How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days (2025)

Accolades

Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
2022 Alex Awards A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting Won [17]
Best Book Forward Awards Best Romance Won [18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "60 Seconds with… Sophie Irwin". The New Blackmore Vale Magazine. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  2. ↑ "The Gryphon School's Record 2013 A-level Results". The Gryphon School. 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  3. ↑ "Winstone's Books". Yale Representation. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "Alumni Publication: A lady's guide to scandal". Mansfield College, Oxford. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  5. 1 2 Onwuemezi, Natasha (11 February 2022). "Sophie Irwin on her debut historical romance". The Bookseller. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Robert Lee Brewer (13 May 2022). "Sophie Irwin: On Connecting With Readers". Writers' Digest. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  7. ↑ Bayley, Sian (6 June 2021). "HarperFiction pre-empts Irwin's debut Regency novel in 48-hour swoop". The Bookseller. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "Deals of the Week: Dorman Hunts Irwin's 'Fortune'". Publishers Weekly. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  9. ↑ Svenne, Jasmina (15 May 2022). "A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting". Historical Novel Societ. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  10. ↑ HarperFiction (17 May 2022). "We are delighted to announce that #LadysGuide has debuted at No. 3 in the Sunday Times Bestseller charts! 🥂". Retrieved 17 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  11. ↑ Moore, Ninah (29 January 2023). "2023 Listen List Revealed". RUSA Update. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  12. ↑ Nathalie (2023). "Review: A Lady's Guide to Scandal". So Many Books. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  13. ↑ Helliker, Lucy (6 October 2023). "A Lady's Guide To Scandal [...]: BOOKS with CHARLOTTE HEATHCOTE". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  14. ↑ Wood, Heloise (19 October 2023). "HarperFiction snaps up two more Regency rom-coms from Irwin". The Bookseller. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  15. ↑ Helen (11 August 2025). "How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin". She Reads Novels. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  16. ↑ Brown, Lauren (20 February 2025). "Sophie Irwin signed by Century to write Georgette Heyer continuation novel". The Bookseller. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "YALSA announces 2023 Alex Awards". News and Press Center. ALA American Library Association. 30 January 2023. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  18. ↑ "The Best Book Forward Book Awards: Celebrating Reader Favourites". Best Book Forward. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
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